In Memory Of
Melvin Earl Toland
1927
2017
Melvin Earl Toland
April 29, 1927 — June 12, 2017
Melvin Earl Toland, 90, passed away at the Davis Hospice Center on June 12th.
Mel was born in Huron South Dakota to Earl and Maude (Hill) Toland on April 29, 1927. He grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota.
As a teenager, he developed a love of flying and had his first flying lessons in high school. After graduating he joined the Army and after the Army Air Corp became the U.S. Air Force he joined the Air Force. He was proud of the fact that his pilot class was the first Air Force class to graduate. He flew several planes but mainly the C47 transport. After a 22 year military career where he served in Japan, Taiwan, and the Koreqan Conflict, he retired and spent the next 20 years with the FAA as an air traffic controller. Even at the age of 90, when he’d hear a plane fly over, he’d look up and so wish he was flying.
Mel is survived by his long-time partner, Bobbie Parrish; daughters, Donna Bowser (Barry) and Geri Japhet; sons, Frank (Cathy) and Fred Toland; grandson, Mark Sweckard (Krista); and great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Addison, and Teaghen. He is also survived by Bobbie’s family, Daryl, Susan Parkins (Todd), and Karen Fate (Vince); and grandchildren, Tashia Crocker (Devon), Kim Ayers (KC), Jeff Parkins (Bethany), and Michael Parkins (Daisy); and great-grandchildren, Robby and Johnathan Crockker.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dave; sister, Vera; and wife, Audree.
Memorial services will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Monday, June 19th, at 1:00 p.m., with The Rev. James Stewart officiating.
Interment will be in the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Columbarium.
Memorials may be sent to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church designated for the Garden Bell Project.
Mel was born in Huron South Dakota to Earl and Maude (Hill) Toland on April 29, 1927. He grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota.
As a teenager, he developed a love of flying and had his first flying lessons in high school. After graduating he joined the Army and after the Army Air Corp became the U.S. Air Force he joined the Air Force. He was proud of the fact that his pilot class was the first Air Force class to graduate. He flew several planes but mainly the C47 transport. After a 22 year military career where he served in Japan, Taiwan, and the Koreqan Conflict, he retired and spent the next 20 years with the FAA as an air traffic controller. Even at the age of 90, when he’d hear a plane fly over, he’d look up and so wish he was flying.
Mel is survived by his long-time partner, Bobbie Parrish; daughters, Donna Bowser (Barry) and Geri Japhet; sons, Frank (Cathy) and Fred Toland; grandson, Mark Sweckard (Krista); and great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Addison, and Teaghen. He is also survived by Bobbie’s family, Daryl, Susan Parkins (Todd), and Karen Fate (Vince); and grandchildren, Tashia Crocker (Devon), Kim Ayers (KC), Jeff Parkins (Bethany), and Michael Parkins (Daisy); and great-grandchildren, Robby and Johnathan Crockker.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dave; sister, Vera; and wife, Audree.
Memorial services will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Monday, June 19th, at 1:00 p.m., with The Rev. James Stewart officiating.
Interment will be in the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Columbarium.
Memorials may be sent to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church designated for the Garden Bell Project.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melvin Earl Toland, please visit our flower store.
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